Hertfordshire Higher Education Consortium Early Years • Foundation Degree

A B C A B C Foundation Degree

Foundation Degree

What is a Foundation Degree? What can I do with my Foundation Degree? Foundation Degrees are university level degree That really is up to you! Your degree will ensure that courses that offer an exciting work-based alternative you are well equipped to start your career path and to the traditional university route. They are: research shows that those with a Higher Education • A stand-alone recognised qualification. qualification earn 25% more than those without! • Equivalent to studying the first two years of an However, if you have a taste for learning you can honours degree programme. ‘top-up’ your Foundation Degree to a BA or BSc • Highly valued by employers. honours degree.

How does this work? How do Foundation Degrees fit with other Foundation Degrees in are accessible qualifications? through your local college, as part of the Hertfordshire Higher Education Consortium*. On graduation you CPD Honours Professional Postgraduate Degree Degrees will be awarded a University of Hertfordshire validated qualification Yr 3 degree, and depending on your chosen course you Yr 2 even get letters after your name… FdA, FdSc. Yr 1 Foundation Degrees Benefits to studying a Foundation Degree HND • real-life projects which enable you to gain valuable work experience whilst allowing you to Advanced Advanced Level BTEC3 NVQ3 A-level apply your skills and knowledge. 3 Apprenticeship Diploma • support that’s available throughout your course Intermediate Level BTEC2 NVQ2 Apprenticeship GCSE from tutors and advisors in College and mentors in 2 Diploma your place of work. Young Foundation • affordable because you can choose from of Level NVQ1 pre- 1 Apprenticeship Diploma GCSE four colleges to study at you will never be far from home, saving you money on living costs. • funding through student tuition fee loans will cover Hertfordshire Higher Education Consortium* the cost of your programme – so there’s nothing The Hertfordshire Higher Education Consortium is a to pay up front. partnership between the University of Hertfordshire, Hertford Regional College, North Hertfordshire Who can study a Foundation Degree? College, Oaklands College and . Foundation Degrees are suitable for all kinds of candidates including: The consortium provides innovative, high quality • Those with Level 3 qualifications (eg A Levels, courses that support vocational higher education. Advanced Apprenticeships, BTECs, Access to Students get the best of both worlds – the benefits Higher Education or City & Guilds). and support of studying at college, and access to • Those looking for a change in career. University facilities including the libraries (LRCs), • Those already employed but wanting to gain a athletic and student unions all social activities, careers Higher Education qualification either to progress support and much, much more. their career or other aspirations.

2 A Early Years B C

Part-time programme A day-release course taught over two full years in three semesters per year A – September to January; B – January to April; C – April to September

Semester Legislation and Legal Responsibilities for A the Children’s Workforce (30 credits) Continuing Personal and Professional Development Year Semester (30 credits) One B The Developing Child (30 credits)

Semester Developing Professional Practice in the Workplace (30 credits) C

Semester Leading and Managing in Children’s Early Years Frameworks A Workforce Settings (30 credits) for Children aged 0-7; Principles Year Semester into Practice Two B Approaches to Research in Early Years (30 credits) (30 credits)

Semester Integrated Working in the Children’s Workforce (30 credits) C

Full-time programme Three days a week taught over two academic years in two semesters per year. A – September to January; B – January to June

Legislation and Legal Semester Responsibilities for the A Children’s Workforce Continuing Personal Developing Professional Year (30 credits) and Professional Practice in the One Development Workplace Semester The Developing Child (30 credits) (30 credits) B (30 credits)

Leading and Managing Semester in Children’s Workforce Early Years Frameworks Integrated Working A Settings (30 credits) Year for Children aged 0-7: in the Children’s Two Principles into Practice Workforce Semester Approaches to Research (30 credits) (30 credits) B in Early Years (30 credits)

3 A B C Early Years

Year 1 modules Entry requirements Legislation and Legal Responsibilities for the You’ll normally need either 120 UCAS points from a Children’s Workforce relevant level 3 qualification which includes appropriate This module provides an introduction to the key skills workplace experience OR to be able to demonstrate essential to managers in the children’s workforce significant relevant experience at an appropriate level. You’ll also need GCSE English language and maths including how to collaborate with colleagues and at grade C or above (or University of Hertfordshire parents. You will learn how to work within the acceptable equivalent such as Functional Skills), framework of legislation and guidance that applies to satisfactory references and a current enhanced the Early Years sector and contribute to CRB/DBS. For anyone subsequently wishing to use this safeguarding. You will build and develop your route to progress onto a teaching qualification, GCSE awareness of issues in the sector such as: equality Maths, English and Science at grade C or above will be and diversity, anti-discriminatory practice, inclusive required in order to practice as a qualified teacher. practice, children’s rights and interpersonal skills, and How will I be assessed? health and safety. We’ll be assessing you through a combination of assignments, case studies, observations and Continuing Personal and Professional presentations. All modules will be taught using a Development blended learning approach and you will use the This module focuses on the development of your programme handbook and StudyNet for guided skills as an independent learner. You will identify your learning as well as participating in lectures and existing skills including your transferable ICT skills seminars. and plan for the development of additional skills. This What will I learn? will support both your learning and your work with You will be building on your existing knowledge children, and enable you to develop your own career to develop the skills required to become a senior planning and progression. practitioner. This will include: increased critical thinking and reflection skills, recognition of appropriate The Developing Child leadership and management skills, research awareness and process. These skills will help to build your In this module you will explore the development and confidence when presenting information to colleagues learning of all children. You will focus on personal, and peers, affirming your high levels of expertise within social, emotional, physical, intellectual, cognitive the Early Years’ sector. and spiritual development with reference to inclusive practice and holistic development. Your observations When and where will I study? from the workplace will be used to develop your You can study this programme full-time or part-time. • Hertford Regional College, Oaklands College and understanding and implementation of evidence- West Herts College offer a full-time programme, based and ethical practice in this area. You will be three days per week for two semesters for two able to apply the skills gained to the workplace years, including placements arranged by the and reflect on your effectiveness and application of college. knowledge in your work setting. • The above three colleges plus North Hertfordshire College offer a part-time programme for students employed or working voluntarily in an appropriate workplace, on a day-release basis, one day per week for three semesters for two years. *Early Years full-time route is subject to change in 2016 entry, please contact University of Hertfordshire Admissions for more details.

4 A Early Years B C

Developing Professional Practice in the broad range of activities and reflect on and evaluate Workplace your own effectiveness in this situation. You will have This module is strongly work-based and will draw opportunities to demonstrate skills in record keeping, on all your skills to allow you to enable, support, assessment, use of appropriate management and plan, implement, evaluate and assess next steps in organisation strategies and collaborative working to children’s learning and development. You will support development and learning. manage and organise groups of children across a

5 A Early Years B C

Year 2 modules Leading and Managing in Children’s Workforce Approaches to Research in Early Years Settings This module will develop your knowledge and This module will develop your leadership and understanding of research and research management skills. You will demonstrate these by methodologies with an emphasis on the ethics identifying an area from one of a number of themes associated with undertaking research in an Early which would benefit from staff development. You will Years setting. You will also review existing literature then plan, implement and evaluate a relevant activity on a specific area of practice to develop your for a group of adults in their workplace. awareness of how research can be used to develop, improve and extend practice in Early Years. Integrated Working in the Children’s Workforce This module is strongly work-based and will promote Early Years Frameworks for Children aged 0-7: the effective development of partnerships when Principles into Practice working as part of an integrated team. You will Here you will examine the influence of Early Years develop your understanding of the distinct roles pioneers on the principles, provision and practice in played by a variety of workers in a team in order to UK and selected international Early Years frameworks successfully work with children and their families and and investigate similarities and differences between to support inclusive practice. You will also develop these frameworks. You will compare and contrast the effective communication skills for integrated working. required learning and assessment strategies in UK Early Years and the Key Stage 1 National curriculum, incorporating inclusive practice across the frameworks.

6 A Notes B C For further information

Hertford Regional College tel + 44 (0)1992 411411 [email protected] www.hrc.ac.uk

North Hertfordshire College tel +44 (0)1462 424242 [email protected] www.nhc.ac.uk

Oaklands College tel +44 (0)1727 737000 [email protected] www.oaklands.ac.uk

West Herts College tel +44 (0)1923 812345 [email protected] www.westherts.ac.uk

University of Hertfordshire Admission Service tel +44 (0)1707 284800 [email protected] go.herts.ac.uk